Tailgating, or eating in the parking lot of a stadium, is very popular during football season. Keeping food safe at these events requires safe food handling techniques, especially since refrigeration and running water aren't available. The USDA is offering tailgating tips to help keep you safe. You can download a PDF of this information at the USDA web site.
Always pack cold perishable foods such as raw meats in insulated cooler with frozen gel packs or containers of ice. Keep an appliance thermometer in the cooler to make sure the food stays at 40 degrees F or below. Pack raw foods and cooked foods in separate coolers.
Hot take-out food should be eaten within two hours of purchase (don't start the timing when you arrive at the event). All perishable foods should be eaten or … [Read more...]

Several organizations are publicizing food safety for the Fourth of July holiday. The non-profit group Partnership for Food Safety Education has released several videos called Ugly Bug to remind consumers to cook chicken to 165 degrees F, to cook burgers to 160 degrees F, and to avoid cross-contamination by using clean plates to hold cooked food.
Eatright.org has released information about food safety as well. Always clean the grill before you cook, and wash your hands frequently before preparing food, during preparation, and before you eat. Don't use the same utensils for cooked and raw foods. Always use a food thermometer to determine when food is cooked; you can't use other methods, such as visual or textural cues to tell that food is safe to eat. Never let perishable foods sit out … [Read more...]

Anyone who was hoping to say "Happy Father's Day" with a gift box of Oscar Meyer bacon may be out of luck. The company has temporarily sold out of it's three Father's Day bacon gift packages sold in "velvet"- covered boxes: The Commander, which sells for $22, comes with 18 -20 slices of bacon and a money clip. The Woodsman sells for $25 and comes with bacon and a multi-purpose tool. And The Matador, which sells for $28, comes with bacon and a set of bacon cufflinks.
If you can't give the gift of bacon, but are planning to planning to grill something up for Dad. Be sure to follow the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's guidelines for safe grilling. Give the grill and your prep areas a good cleaning before you start.
If you are marinating the meat, do it in the fridge, not on the … [Read more...]

If you’re firing up the grill this weekend, remember to put food safety first. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration both have good information for outdoor cooks. Here’s a summary of what they recommend.
Are you going to marinate your meat? If so, do it in the fridge, not on the counter. Don’t re-use the marinade as sauce for the cooked meat. If you do want some for sauce, divide the marinade when you make it. Set aside some for sauce, use the rest for marinade.
Do you plan to partially cook something to reduce grilling time? If you are, do this right before you are ready to put it on a hot grill. Otherwise, you are setting the stage for bacterial growth.
Use a food thermometer. This is the only way to tell when meat is cooked properly. Make … [Read more...]

The Fourth of July is next week; many people celebrate with cookouts and barbecues. And the USDA wants you to stay safe and serve safe food. They've put out a video, infographics, fact sheets, and podcasts at FSIS' "Grill it Safe" webpage. View the video for safe grilling at YouTube.
Be sure to follow the food safety rules of: Clean, Separate, Cook, and Chill whenever you prepare food. USDA's Under Secretary for Food Safety Elisabeth Hagen said, "We want to provide families with important information that will help reduce the risk of foodborne illness during their Fourth of July celebrations. Small children and the elderly are among the most vulnerable to foodborne illness, and this information is essential in protecting loved ones at family barbecues and picnics."
Clean
Bring … [Read more...]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Meat and Poultry Hotline fields a lot of questions about the proper way to grill meat and poultry, and with the season of summer barbecues kicking off this weekend they have compiled a list of tips and frequently asked questions.
Here is a summary of the recommendations:
At The Store
Choose packages that are not torn and feel cold. If possible, put them in a plastic bag so any leaking juices won't contaminate other foods.
Make the meat counter the last stop at the grocery so purchases stay cold as long as possible.
Separate raw neat from other food in your cart and bag it separately.
If the meat is going for a long car ride, it needs to be stored on ice in a cooler or insulated bag.
At Home
Refrigerate or freeze raw meat and … [Read more...]